Angel's Story
An Unexpected Horse Tale
Tonight as I was processing an unexpected situation, another random life occurrence popped into the old brain box. When I first moved onto the land that is now my farm, I was a renter. My husband and I rented a home on the far corner of what was to become our farm many years ago. We lived on about an acre, and on the edge of our yard was a big pasture with a couple of Arabian horses in it. I grew up around mostly Appaloosas, Peruvian Pasos, and Quarter Horses with the occasional Tennessee Walker and Mule thrown into the fray. The only Arabian horses that I had spent a lot of time around were other people's horses and my sister-in-law's mare. All of them were a little flighty. The word flighty didn't begin to cover the gray mare that inhabited the field next to my house. There was a bay gelding as well, and before long I was riding that guy around the neighborhood as I am a horse magnet. However, the mare was a different story. She wanted to be loved on, but had this terrified aura. Her name was Angel.
Never one to look a gift horse in the mouth, I expressed heartfelt gratitude to my hubs for such a thoughtful gift. Angel was the last horse I would ever pick for myself. She was beautiful, but as she was 8 years old, spooky, afraid of most everything, and so herd bound that I had to let her follow Indy (the gelding) and I wherever we rode, let's just say I wasn't too sure of what I was getting into.
It was only after I took possession of Angel that I found out what the poor mare had been through. She was born on our farm in the very pasture she lived in. She had also been harassed, tortured, and starved. The first time I walked into the field with the intention to halter her, she bolted through the fence. Her terror was so great that she didn't try to jump the fence, she ran straight through it. I later found out that my landlord's special brother would go out in the field, put a halter and lead on Angel, and crouch down. When Angel would sniff him to see what was going on, he would spray her in the face with fly spray and let her drag him around the field. Thus began her terrified fear of all things rope related. I know where I would like to stick a cattle prod when I think about the terror that jerk-face put her through.
After discovering just what my Angel girl had endured, I instead coaxed her in the round pen and "joined up" with her. When I was 19 I had a chance to watch Monty Roberts, The Horse Whisperer. All of my life I had grown up around people who "broke" animals, and that just wasn't my way. It was such a pleasure to have my eyes opened as to a method of partnering with an animal and asking them what you wanted from them, all through means of pressure and cues. In one session in the round pen I had Angel where I could halter and lead her around. After the next session I could rub a flag attached to a pole all over her body. We were pals and she trusted me.
Then, I found out I was pregnant with my daughter, and Angel and I didn't get to work together as much as I wanted to. What she did get was a peaceful life, plenty of food and company, and tons of love. Time went by, and before I knew it, my little Polish Arabian mare was 17, and that is when the next great adventure in her life began.
I have a dear friend, Mike, who is one of the best people I have ever seen with horses. He took my untrained, senior horse, and within a few training sessions had us all riding her. Although she is not the most supple to the left, Miss Angel is a fantastic trail horse that will take a moose sighting with ease. She loves getting out and exploring, and I think her story gives up some good themes to think about:
It doesn't matter how horrid your start is at or in anything, there is a good life out there to be had.
and
A new adventure can start at any age, you just have to have a willing attitude!
The attitude that my sometimes stubborn and flighty old mare exhibits is no match for her curious nature and serious attitude of fortitude. I consider it my privilege and honor to provide her with a comfortable place to enjoy her old age. She is now in her twenties and her main job is the babysitter of any new animal that comes on the farm. She has adopted my daughter's 4-H steer and fusses over him like he is her own foal. I'm just glad that she is content, for that old girl has taught me many things indeed!
Want to read more @Generikat posts?
Animals have feelings too. They will behave based on the way they have been treated.
When I was a kid, we took in a sheepdog that somebody we knew was looking to get rid of. That guy was a mean bastard, so the sheepdog was a mean bastard. Damn dog tried to bite me the first time I fed him. Within a few weeks the dog was sleeping on the floor next to my bed every night. Went from mean bastard to big baby in no time. When you love an animal they almost always will love you back.
Two stories about that sheepdog. One night there was a massive thunderstorm. It was hot as hell so my window was open. Lightning struck near the house and it sounded like a bomb went off. Chevy (sheepdog's name) jumped straight up and landed right on top of me on my bed. Chevy weighed around 90 pounds or so and knocked the wind right out of me. Luckily I was already awake so I saw him coming. Only time I ever cursed the dog out. When my breath came back.
A family friend named Billy raised pigs and collected slop buckets from the local McDonalds. He was getting more than he needed so he left us a bucket for the dog. My stepdad came home later in the day and found the dog laying in the backyard groaning. Billy didn't put the lid on the bucket tight so Chevy helped himself to a gourmet McDonalds leftover feast. Five gallon slop bucket, two thirds missing. Needless to say Chevy skipped dinner that night.
That whole Golden Rule thing seems to work pretty well in most avenues of life, for sure!
Okay seriously, Kris, I love all of your tales! You need to post on your blog more! I love all of the visuals of the mammoth sheep dog knocking the wind out of you and that big beastie rolling around in full indigestion agony from gorging on Big Mac's LOL! Totally reminds me of a story about my Boxer Boss Hog. Think I will write about that tomorrow:o)
Hope you are staying warm, speaking of, I think I am going to go put another chunk of red fir on the fire, laterz my friend!
It's starting to warm up here a bit. Supposed to hit 40's this weekend so snow will be turning to slush.
You know, I have been thinking about making a post about Billy. He was a good friend of my uncle who lost his pants. Garbageman who raised pigs on the side. He passed away several years ago, but he wouldn't care if I told his stories. He was nuts, in a good way. If I find time this weekend I'll get it done.
YASS! I can't wait to read the tale of the nutty garbageman pig herder!
It's a weird snow-slushing sort of mess here too, back and forth above and below freezing. Kind of like March weather only in January, lol! Of course, I spent most of the day at my son's basketball game, so at least I was in the gym and warm. Probably from all the yelling.....
I joke about applying cattle prods to certain troublesome individuals, but that landlord's brother indeed sounds like a worthy candidate for serious and inventive application of that particular implement.
Agreed. You know of which landlord this was, just imagine that creature's IQ lacking brother!
I know said brother was homeless for a long time, and may have had real mental issues. Doesn't excuse cruelty to horses though.
Having grown up with sheep and goats around the farm, I've always thought horses were too big, and rather alarming. My few attempts at riding did not go particularly well. I am content to admire them from a distance, and they certainly are beautiful animals. I'm sorry your Angel had such a rough start in life, but it sounds like her retirement years are very comfortable and satisfying for her!
Lol! After spending the last fifteen years with goats and sheep, I would much rather be around horses! They are far less mischievous! However, I am sad to hear that your attempts at riding horses didn't go so well, I hate it when that happens! Horses are definitely an animal that you need to ride a total beginner's model to start so that your confidence grows. Honestly though, when it comes to ponies, I have always been too silly to be afraid of the giants, and mom could often find me standing in the midst of twenty of the leviathans when I was a small thing:o)!
Angel is pretty spoiled now, she got scratches and alfalfa this evening!
Such a nice tale about an Angel horse. Your husband must have known she needed a new home and that you would take good care of her. Thank you for that. Being an animal lover, and even knowing how agrivating they can be at times, it breaks my heart to see them hurting or abused. Every one of our critters has been a rescue from something or someone. You are so right. Anyone can make a fresh start and have a good life. Thanks for a great story. 🐓🐓
Oh, I can so tell you are a fellow animal lover, because anyone who spends more than a fair amount of time with fellow creatures has been irritated greatly by their antics! I swear goats were the worst! LOL! Angel has some quirks, but she is always up for a snuggle or muzzle scratch or two, and I so love seeing her content. It is so amazingly awesome of you to have a herd of rescues! I bet you have some tales to tell😊
What an absolutely beautiful story of redemption.
My father in law has many a horse at his farm that have a story. The ones that are abused are the same ones he bonds with the most - they just need someone to care. Love your heart, @generikat.
I love how you can state things in a manner that cuts through the fluff and delves straight to the heart of an issue! Thank you so much @lydon.sipe😊
And your father in law sounds like the bestest!!!
This one made me cry about the horses I have loved and lost, and how grateful I am to have known them. Joining up is a transcendent experience!
Oh, I so feel much the same way about horses, any time I am feeling down I go out and get horse therapy. Nothing like a nuzzle from one of their muzzles and a big neck smash to make one feel anew:o)
I'm so happy that you have got to spend time with them over the years, horses totally are a bonus part to life!
That's a wonderful story. I'm glad you gave Angel a better life then she had before.
Thank you my friend! After what she went through it was the least we could do.
Always an awesome story! Here is our old TWH that passed last year.
Oh what an excellent looking creature! I'm so sorry your friend had to move on, it's always hard to lose an old pal, but I bet you all enjoyed each other's company!
Those are great lessons for anyone. It's a shame that animals get mistreated and go through so much suffering because of it. It's good that you have such a way with horses. I hope you have time with her for a good long while yet. And that she has you!
Awe, you are too nice hh, thank you! I love my old Angel girl😊
And it really is a tragedy when animals get mistreated. I don't expect humanity to be perfect, yet I do have hope that we can do better over time, for it takes far less effort to be kind and compassionate.
Hope you are having the absolute best day! The sun is actually shining here!!!
Wow, what a sweet story! How old can horses live?
Thank you! Horses usually have a lifespan of 25-30 years, but my first horse Frisky, lived well into his thirties. My Angel-girl is 24, so she is starting to get up there in age.